Tamil pilgrims being harassed in Kerala: DMK MPs

New Delhi, Dec 22: Alleging harassment of Tamil pilgrims in Kerala, DMK MPs Thursday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought his intervention to protect devotees of Lord Ayyappa visiting the hill shrine of Sabarimala.

"This is a season when lakhs and lakhs of devotees are going to Sabarimala from Tamil Nadu and other states. So when they are going, they are being harassed," DMK MP T K S Elangovan told reporters after meeting the Prime Minister.

"We wanted the Government of India to intervene and see that those people are protected," Elangovan said.

He said the Prime Minister assured the MPs that "suitable action" will be taken to protect those pilgrims who are going to the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala.

Prohibitory orders are in force in some places bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu due to tense situation in the wake of the row between the two states on the 116-year-old dam which has escalated in recent days.

While Kerala is concerned over the safety of the Dam situated in Idukki district, Tamil Nadu maintains that it is "as good as new".

The dam's water serves 5 districts of Tamil Nadu.

PTI